Stackable building structure frame

ABSTRACT

A stackable building structure frame of the shelter type whereby to shelter shopping carts. The stackable building structure frame can be secured in a collapsed condition whereby to facilitate transport, storage and the erection of such building structures. The frame is comprised of reinforced connecting plates secured to opposed corners of a roof frame and to a vertical support post secured thereto. The connecting plates permit the vertical posts, which constitute the side walls of the structures, to be folded under the roof assembly. The vertical posts are secured to the connecting plates by a pair of connections one of which is a hinge connection. These vertical posts are interconnected in a folded condition by connecting vertical leg braces which are also the adjustable legs for the vertical posts. Stacking corner support legs are detachably secured to opposed corners of the collapsed building structure frame to permit stacking of these collapsed frames one on top of each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a stackable building structure frame ofthe shelter type and wherein the structure frame is displaceable to acollapsed condition and provided with stacking corner support legs forthe stacking of same one on top of each other.

BACKGROUND ART

Small building structures are known in the art whereby to provideshelter for all sorts of devices or to provide shelter for people. Thestructure of the present invention is one that is preferably, althoughnot exclusively, adapted to shelter shopping carts in parking lots oflarge shopping centers Usually these shopping carts are left exposed tothe elements in a corral which is usually formed of interconnectedtubular members secured into the pavement of the parking lots. Thesecorrals do not protect the shopping carts from rain, snow and the sun.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a stackable buildingstructure frame which is collapsible into a stable compact stackableform and provided with supports whereby a plurality of these collapsedstructures can be stacked one on top of each other.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a collapsiblestructure frame of the shelter type whereby to facilitate the transport,storage and erection of these structures.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a stackablebuilding structure frame of the shelter type and wherein the structurewhen in a collapsed stacked form can be easily handled by forklifttrucks

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a stackablebuilding structure which can be easily erected from a collapsedcondition by the disconnection and connection of very few fasteners.

According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the presentinvention provides a stackable building structure frame comprising aroof frame having a rectangular outline. A reinforcing connecting plateis secured to opposed corners of the roof frame. A vertical support postis secured to the connecting plate by two spaced-apart connections lyingon a vertical axis. One of the connections is a pivot connection and theother connection is an arresting connection. The vertical posts, securedto opposed ones of the connecting plates on opposed sides of the roofframe, have their pivot connection oriented to provide a compactcollapsed frame structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the stackable building structureframe of the present invention in an erected condition;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, partly fragmented, of the detail C of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is an end view showing the stackable building structure framebeing folded to a collapsed condition;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the building structureframe in a fully collapsed condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the stackable building structureframe in a collapsed condition with stacking connector support legssecured thereto as well as connecting vertical leg braces secured to thevertical posts;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of detail A of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of detail C of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing three stackable building structureframes of the present invention in their compact collapsed stackableform and stacked one on top of the other by the corner support legs;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the stackablebuilding structure frame of the present invention in an erectedcondition and wherein the pitched roof frame is provided with a peakconnecting plate permitting the roof frame to be collapsed;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 5, but showing thestackable building structure frame in a collapsed condition with theroof frame rafter members in a collapsed interconnected condition;

FIG. 11 is a fragmented view showing part of the construction of theconnecting plate support bar; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 8, showing four stackablebuilding structure frames with their collapsed roof frame in a stackedcondition one on top of the other and wherein the collapsed frames aresupported intermediate their opposed ends by connecting plate supportbars on which the intermediate connecting plates are supported.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown generally at 10 the stackable building structure frame of thepresent invention. It is comprised of a roof frame 11 having arectangular outline. As hereinshown the roof frame 11 is a pitched roofframe having opposed sloped rafter members 12 interconnected together byroof brace members 13. The rafter members 12 define, with a cross bracemember 14, a triangular shaped truss.

As hereinshown a reinforced connecting plate 15 is secured to opposedfour corners 16 of the roof frame 11. A vertical support post 17 issecured to each connecting plate 15 by two spaced-apart connections 18and 19 as better seen in FIG. 2. These vertical connections lie on avertical axis with one of said connections being a pivot connection,such as connection 18 and the other connection being an arrestingconnection, such as connection 19.

The vertical posts 17 and 17′ secured to opposed ones of the connectingplates 15 and 15′, on opposed sides of the roof frame 11, have theirpivot connection and bracing connections inverted from one another asmore clearly illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross brace14 is also secured to the connecting plates 15 and 15′ at opposed endsthereof. The connecting plate is provided with pre-drilled holes 20 topermit all of these interconnections.

As shown in FIG. 1, the building structure frame may also compriseintermediate trusses and vertical posts depending on the length of theshelter to be fabricated. Bracing side wall members 21 interconnect thevertical posts together to form side wall members and to which coveringmaterial may be secured. Covering material is also securable at least onthe rafters and the roof brace members 13.

With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown how the buildingstructure frame of FIG. 1 is collapsed to a collapsed stackable form. Inorder to form this collapsed structure, the vertical posts have theirarresting connections 19 disconnected whereby the posts can pivot ontheir pivot connections 18. This permits the vertical posts 17 and 17′to be folded to a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 4, whereby toconstitute a folded structure with the vertical post disposed in asubstantially horizontal plane and in a spaced-apart manner. Once all ofthese vertical posts are collapsed to this position, they are secured toone another, in pairs, by a connecting vertical leg brace 30. This legbrace constitutes an adjustable leg support brace which is placed at thebottom of the vertical posts. The leg brace 30 is provided with a footplate 31 to rest on a ground surface. The vertical adjustable leg braceis also provided with a plurality of holes 32 to permit the heightadjustment of the vertical posts. With the pairs of vertical legsinterconnected together there is provided a stable compact collapsedstackable building frame structure.

In order to stack these collapsible building frames one on top of theother, a stacking corner support leg 33 is detachably secured to opposedcorners 16 of the collapsed stackable structure. Each of the cornersupport legs 33, as better seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, have stackingconnecting cup-shaped connectors 34 and 34′ secured to opposed endsthereof. These cup-shaped connectors are shaped to mate with oneanother, as shown in FIG. 8, when two or more of these collapsedbuilding frames are disposed one on top of another, as shown in FIG. 8.The stacking corner support legs 33 are longer than the height of thebuilding structure in the collapsed stackable form. Their lengths areselected whereby these frame structures are closely spaced to oneanother.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, there is further provided forklift engagingbraces 35 secured in a spaced-apart manner across the building structurewhen in its collapsible stackable form. These braces are disposedsubstantially centrally of the collapsed structure and are engageable oneither side of the collapsed roof frame. These forklift engaging bracesare constituted by elongated inverted U-shaped channels 36 engagedbetween opposed engaging brackets 37 secured to opposed outer sidelongitudinal frame members 38 of the roof frame. The engaging brackets37 have a hole 39 sufficiently dimensioned to permit the passage of theinverted U-shaped channels 36 and forklift fingers of a forklift truck,not shown herein.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown another embodiment of thestackable building structure frame of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 9, the roof frame 11′ is again a pitched roof frame having opposedsloped rafter members 12′ but wherein the opposed slope rafter members12′ are interconnected together adjacent a peak end 40 thereof by a peakconnecting plate 41. The peak connecting plate 41, as better seen inFIG. 10, has opposed connecting arm portions 42 and 42′ each providedwith sloped outer edges 43 and 43′. Holes 44 are spaced apart adjacentthe slope outer edge 43 and provides at least two connections for eachof the slope ratter members 12 and 12′. As hereinshown the uppermosthole 44 constitutes a pivot connection with its associated slope raftermember 12′ when connected by bolts. The other hole 44′ constitutes asecond connection spaced from the pivot hole 44 whereby to rigidlysecure the slope rafter members 12 and 12′ to the peak connecting plate41 to constitute a pitch roof frame. Accordingly, by removing thefasteners 45 and 45′ on all the pitch roof rafter members, these raftermembers can then be hinged on their connection with the hole 44 toassume a substantially horizontal collapsed position as illustrated inFIG. 10 wherein the opposed slope rafter members 12 and 12′ lie in asubstantially horizontal plane in end-to-end relationship.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, a connecting plate support bar 50 isremovably secured to the reinforced connecting plates 15 and 15′ of theintermediate triangular shaped trusses 12″ whereby to provide aninterconnecting support between the connecting plates 15 and 15′ ofthese intermediate trusses when two or more or a plurality of the foldedstructures, as illustrated in FIG. 10, are stacked one on top of theother. FIG. 12 illustrates four of these structures stacked one on topof the other. Accordingly, when a stack of these collapsed structuresare picked up by a forklift truck, the frame maintains a rigid stackedpack which does not collapse or undergo stress in the middle portion ofthe span of the collapsible frames.

Each of these connecting plate support bars 50 are constructed from atubular frame section and defines a straight connecting end section 51for securement to a respective one of the intermediate connecting plates15 or 15′ which is provided with holes to receive the fasteners 52 ofthis straight connecting end section 51. The connecting plate supportbar then defines an outer vertical upwardly extending section 53,hereinshown as an upwardly curved section and an inner support straightarm 54 extending substantially parallel to the straight connecting endsection 51 and spaced a predetermined distance thereabove whereby theconnecting plates 15 and 15′ of the frame positioned thereover will restonto the inner support straight arm section 54. Although not shown, thisupper arm section 54 may be provided with a longitudinal groove on theupper surface thereof whereby to locate and restrain the bottom end ofthe connecting plate of an upper collapsed frame positioned thereover.However, it is pointed out that the stacking corner support legs 33,when mated on top of one another, align the entire frame in position.Accordingly, the connecting plates will all align themselves verticallywhen the collapsed frames are stacked one on top of the other.

It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obviousmodifications of the preferred embodiment described herein provided suchmodifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A stackable building structure frame comprising a roof frame having arectangular outline, a reinforcing connecting plate secured to opposedcorners of said roof frame, a vertical support post secured to saidconnecting plate by two spaced-apart connections lying on a verticalaxis, one of said two spaced-apart connections being a pivot connectionwhen the other of said two spaced-art connections is disconnected, andsaid other connection being an arresting connection, said vertical postssecured to opposed ones of said connecting plates on opposed sides ofsaid roof frame having their said pivot connection positioned to providea compact collapsed frame structure.
 2. A stackable building structureframe as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vertical posts, secured toopposed ones of said connecting plates on opposed sides of said roofframe have their pivot connection and arresting connections invertedfrom one another.
 3. A stackable building structure frame as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said roof frame is a pitched roof frame having opposedsloped rafter members interconnected together by roof brace members;said rafter members defining, with a cross-brace member securedhorizontally at opposed ends thereof, to opposed ones of said connectingplates on opposed sides of said roof frame, a triangular shaped truss.4. A stackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 3 whereinthere is further provided an intermediate triangular shaped trusssecured to opposed intermediate connecting plates, said intermediateconnecting plates each having a vertical support post secured thereto.5. A stackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 4 whereinsaid vertical posts on respective ones of said opposed sides of saidroof frame are interconnected together by bracing side wall members. 6.A stackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 5 wherein saidbracing side wall members are comprised by at least two spaced-aparthorizontal bracing side wall members secured at opposed ends thereof toadjacent ones of said vertical posts.
 7. A stackable building structureframe as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vertical posts secured toopposed ones of said connecting plates are displaceable to a horizontalposition on their respective pivot connections to constitute a foldedstructure with said vertical posts disposed in a substantiallyhorizontal plane and spaced apart, and means to detachably secure saidvertical posts secured to opposed ones of said connecting platestogether in pairs in said substantially horizontal plane whereby saidbuilding structure frame is in a stable compact collapsed stackableform.
 8. A stackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 7wherein said means to secure said vertical posts in pairs is anadjustable connecting vertical leg brace for a corresponding one of saidvertical posts, there being one of said adjustable connecting verticalleg braces connected to said pairs of vertical posts adjacent each saidconnecting plates.
 9. A stackable building structure frame as claimed inclaim 8 wherein each said leg brace is provided with a foot plate.
 10. Astackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 7 wherein thereis further provided a stacking corner support leg detachably secured toopposed corners of said building structure frame in said collapsedstackable form; each said corner support leg having a stackingconnecting cup-shaped connector secured to opposed ends thereof shapedto mate with one another when two or more of said building structureframes in said collapsed stackable form are disposed one on top ofanother; said stacking corner support leg being longer than the heightof said building structure frame in said collapsed stackable form.
 11. Astackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 10 wherein thereis further provided fork lift engaging braces secured spaced-apartacross said building structure frame when in said collapsed stackableform, said braces being engageable on said sides of said roof frame. 12.A stackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 11 wherein saidfork lift engaging braces are elongated inverted U-shaped channelsengaged between opposed engaging brackets secured to opposed outer sidelongitudinal frame members of said roof frame, said engaging racketshaving a hole sufficient to permit the passage of fork lift fingerstherein.
 13. A stackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 1wherein said building structure frame is a shelter structure forshopping carts.
 14. A stackable building structure frame as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said roof frame is a pitched roof frame having opposedsloped rafter members interconnected together adjacent a peak end ofsaid sloped rafter members by peak connecting plates, each said opposedsloped rafter member having a first and a second spaced apartconnection, said first connection being a pivot connection when saidsecond connection is disconnected permitting said opposed sloped raftersto be in a substantially common horizontal plane.
 15. A stackablebuilding structure frame as claimed in claim 14 wherein there is furtherprovided an intermediate triangular shaped truss secured to opposedintermediate connecting plates, said intermediate connecting plates eachhaving a vertical support post secured thereto, said rafter memberdefining, with a cross-brace member secured horizontally at opposed endsthereof, to opposed ones of said connecting plates on opposed sides ofsaid roof frame, a triangular shaped truss.
 16. A stackable buildingstructure frame as claimed in claim 15, wherein said vertical postssecured to opposed ones of said connecting plates are displaceable to ahorizontal position on their respective pivot connections to constitutea folded structure with said vertical posts disposed in a substantiallyhorizontal plane and spaced apart, and means to detachably secure saidvertical posts secured to opposed ones of said connecting platestogether in pairs in said substantially horizontal plane whereby saidbuilding structure frame is in a stable compact collapsed stackableform.
 17. A stackable building structure frame as claimed in claim 16wherein there is further provided a connecting plate support barremovably secured to said connecting plates of said intermediatetriangular shaped truss whereby to provide an interconnecting supportbetween said connecting plates when two or more of said foldedstructures are stacked one on top of another.
 18. A stackable buildingstructure frame as claimed in claim 17 wherein said connecting platesupport bar has a straight connecting end section for securement to saidconnecting plate of said intermediate triangular shaped truss, an outervertical upwardly extending section and an inner support straight armsection extending substantially parallel to said straight connecting endsection and spaced a predetermined distance thereabove.
 19. A stackablebuilding structure frame as claimed in claim 14 wherein said peakconnecting plate is a flat metal plate having opposed spaced connectingarm portions, each arm portion having a sloped upper edge having a pairof spaced connecting holes adjacent said sloped upper edge for receivingfasteners to constitute said first and second connections.